I see some primer flattening - nothing severe, and more on some rounds than others so I am looking for another powder to try that will meter well and produce the same velocity and lower pressure - any ideas on what I should try?

Thanks,

Alan

ctious

09-18-2012, 20:50

Longshot.

Taterhead

09-18-2012, 20:53

Accurate no. 9.

I have tried Blue Dot, 800-X, and Longshot as well. I can't get to the same velocities of A9 without significantly loading past book loads with the other powders. I like A7 too, but not for pushing maxes.

Working up toward the Hornday max, I get to 1200 fps with a 200 gr XTP just below the book max. This is in my G20 with stock barrel. That load is higher than the Accurate max, but less than the Hornday max. Both loads are published for the XTP specifically. A9 meters as well as A7, and is much more suitable for the 200 gr bullets.

Of course, I hand weigh all charges that approach max - even A9.

alank2

09-18-2012, 20:58

Hi Taterhead,

Is the AA#9 a compressed load?

Thanks,

Alan

nickE10mm

09-19-2012, 11:24

Longshot is my personal fav and you will easily hit 1050-1100 with a book charge, but I've not yet messed with AA9. AA7 is another favorite of mine but, as has been said before, its not ideal for 200gr bullets. If it were, I'd probably use it more than BD... Also, 800x is GREAT for velocity but won't safely meter....

alank2

09-19-2012, 15:29

Hi,

One of the 35 rounds I shot the other day (200gr xtp, 1.250" oal with 9.6gr of AA#7, CCI 300 LP) was odd - the outside of the case was much more sooty than the others. I noticed it after firing it and 3 hours of corncob didn't polish the black off of it while the other cases came out gleamy bright. The primer doesn't look any flatter on it than the others... Any ideas?

Is AA#9 just as fine as AA#7?

Thanks,

Alan

nickE10mm

09-19-2012, 15:35

Hi,

One of the 35 rounds I shot the other day (200gr xtp, 1.250" oal with 9.6gr of AA#7, CCI 300 LP) was odd - the outside of the case was much more sooty than the others. I noticed it after firing it and 3 hours of corncob didn't polish the black off of it while the other cases came out gleamy bright. The primer doesn't look any flatter on it than the others... Any ideas?

Is AA#9 just as fine as AA#7?

Thanks,

Alan

USUALLY, the soot means that you have too low of a charge ... and the seal isn't strong enough and gas and soot comes back and gets on the case. I have a lot of that with lower charged Longshot loads. I don't have a manual in front of me so I don't know if your AA7 charges are hot-book or medium-book so I can't tell you for sure that's what's happening. I personally think that AA7 and AA9 flatten primers more than other powders because they are such small, fine, sand-like particles that get down in the primer pocket and flatten them. Try using case expansion instead of primer flattening to guesstimate pressure next round. Just an idea.

AA7 is faster than AA9 and, while its a GREAT powder, I think AA9 is better for the heavier bullets as its slower.

alank2

09-19-2012, 15:39

Hi,

I'm between trying long shot and AA#9. I keep reading about how LS meters poorly - how poorly are we talking about in a Dillon measure? +/- 0.1 ? +/- 0.2 ? Does it meter worse than blue dot?

Thanks,

Alan

nickE10mm

09-19-2012, 15:43

No powder will ever meter like Accurate 7 & 9 but Longshot meters great! Even better than BD

alank2

09-19-2012, 16:20

Hi,

Is there official 200gr XTP data for long shot? I didn't see it on their website...

edit - nevermind I found it!

Thanks,

Alan

ctious

09-19-2012, 17:50

Longshot meters great for me.

alank2

09-19-2012, 17:55

Hi,

I picked up some Longshot tonight - got Bass Pro to match a local store. They wanted $29.99 for it, but I got it for $19.99...

Anyone have a softer shooting XTP 200gr load to recommend? oal?

Thanks,

Alan

nickE10mm

09-19-2012, 19:01

Bps' rate on LS is ridiculous but they do that here too. Graf's sells it for 22$ all day long.

Good choice in powder though. You will like it.

7.3gr under a 200gr XTP's Hornady 8th's max and its very conservative. You wil be fine there.

Taterhead

09-19-2012, 22:21

Hi Taterhead,

Is the AA#9 a compressed load?

Thanks,

Alan

Nope.

Taterhead

09-19-2012, 22:28

Hi,

One of the 35 rounds I shot the other day (200gr xtp, 1.250" oal with 9.6gr of AA#7, CCI 300 LP) was odd - the outside of the case was much more sooty than the others. I noticed it after firing it and 3 hours of corncob didn't polish the black off of it while the other cases came out gleamy bright. The primer doesn't look any flatter on it than the others... Any ideas?

Is AA#9 just as fine as AA#7?

Thanks,

Alan

Nick pretty well covered this. You are not getting a good bore seal. The case acts like a gasget. The pressure of the load might not be enough to get a good seal. I also agree with the primer flattening hypothesis. I have observed this with most every load with A7 & A9. I have started messing with A5 a bit for plinkers, but I have not paid attention to see if it does the same. It is the same powder shape as its slower-burning siblings.

A9 & A7 look identical. That is if you buy the powders made in the same location. A few years ago, A7 & A9 were made in Belgium. They look just like each other. They are both now made in the USA (gotta like production on-shoring!). Both look different than the Belgian-made stuff, but otherwise look the same as each other.

In other words, A9 meters as superbly as does A7.

alank2

09-20-2012, 06:12

Hi,

Thanks guys. I loaded up 10 test rounds last night; I thought LS metered great. I ended up loading:

I personally think that AA7 and AA9 flatten primers more than other powders because they are such small, fine, sand-like particles that get down in the primer pocket and flatten them. Try using case expansion instead of primer flattening to guesstimate pressure next round. Just an idea.
I have heard this before, maybe it was from you, or someone echoing what you had said, I don't remember.
it does sound reasonable though, that stuff (AA#9 in my case) is super fine.

To the op:
I have not found anything that meters too much better than Longshot in my LEE powder thrower, and its great for velocity.

AA9 clogs up my Lee thrower because it is so fine, YMMV.

Go with Blue Dot if you want fireworks, that stuff is just too fun!

Cwlongshot

09-22-2012, 12:06

Just a note on pressures and watching for them...

Measuring case heads IS a accurate way if all things are equil. BUT at pressures under 40K it's simply not gonna happen. Meaning most handgun loadings cannot be accurately estimated by measuring the case head expansion. By the time you see measurable expansion your already past the SAMMI spec for this caliber. The 10mm is right on the cusp of this 40K pressure limits so it's possible some measurable expansion will be found.

Primers alone are a POOR choice for looking at pressures. YES hi pressures will likley have flattened primers. BUT you need to know what your looking at and this comes with experience.

Noise, excessive recoil as well as flattens primers and as you get to the top pressures case head expansion.

As mentioned, be careful and watch all signs of excessive pressure if your gonna push the limits and find your own maximum. Once you reach the limits, your best served to back off and set your guns limit for BEFORE pressure signs appear.

CW

nickE10mm

09-23-2012, 17:36

I have heard this before, maybe it was from you, or someone echoing what you had said, I don't remember..

I've said it before but I think I originally got the original post in this forum was by Yondering... can't recall